Bronze wine vessel (gong) from the Shang Dynasty

Are you curious about what Chinese people used to hold wine during rituals more than 3,000 years ago? During the late Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) and early Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC), the gong was a popular wine container.

The bronze vessel in the shape of a crouching beast on a foot ring is a fine example. Diverse patterns decorate the vessel and there is a two-character mark reading “Fu Hao” in its inner bottom.

The vessel was unearthed from the tomb of Fu Hao at the Yinxu site in Anyang, Henan province, in 1976. Fu Hao was a military general and one of the wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty. The beast-shaped gong vessel is in the permanent collection of the Henan Museum, reflecting the superb crafts and intriguing culture of that period.